Wondering…
Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time being in gardens like the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena and just this week I was at a lovely tea event at the San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden.
As I strolled the garden I starting wondering why are there some things that bring me so much delight and peace in this season of my life: experiences such as dancing in the morning, gardens, being out in nature, quiet times by a tree, dressing for the day, tea time, fiber arts, walking and coloring - to name a few. For some reason, I was wondering what the common thread is for all these different experiences.
Then quietly from somewhere, I heard it, The PAUSE. That is what I love, the invitation of the pause.
The Pause, to enjoy the senses I’ve been gifted with.
Dancing in the morning, I am invited to pause to feel the music and the quietness of the morning before things get busy. The senses I get to enjoy are hearing, sight, and intuition.
Gardens and being out in nature show me the pause of the wind, the way the trees sway, the singing of the birds, and water. The senses for me here are hearing, sight, touch, even tasting the air, or the mist/rain of the moment. Gardens are nature dancing out fully.
Music: The pause in music is what makes it so moving and why we are so drawn to it. Feeling the pauses between the beats is what make it music vs… noise. Filling my senses of hearing, intuition, and touch. The union between music and dance: I have never been able to fully express its profoundness.
Tea: Choosing which tea I would love to drink, the smell, taste, touch are heightened in this activity.
And… finally, dressing: The creative, artistic expression of choosing how to celebrate the day has its own very special type of pause…. The introspection of feeling into my body what I would love to wear for the day - the fabric, the colors, how the clothes bring me to a happy space, a delight for the day. All my senses enjoy the interplay of this lovely daily ritual.
So at the moment, the common thread in all of these experiences is the PAUSE, to move into my senses…. hmmmm, a moment to breathe fully and enjoy, so that time reaches a brief segment of stillness and suspension.
How do you enjoy your PAUSE(s)?
